It’s time for another episode of “Elephant on Elephant Violence.” Grab the popcorn Alaska progressives. In our daily slog through the muck of the state’s politics, and to take a much needed mental hiatus from frustration, let’s take our joy where we can. We hear all the time about the cycle of violence – abused [...]

As Alaska finds itself once again in the national political spotlight, it’s been interesting to watch how candidates are interacting (or not) with the former half-governor. She used to live in the realm of the political untouchables, with positive approval ratings approaching 90%. That was then and this is now. The latest numbers show her DISapproval [...]

Our last report from Fairbanks comes from Mudflatter Rubber Room Hotel, a regular commenter.  She passed on some great pictures and impressions from the event.  It’s interesting that each person brings some new insight and perspective.  Much gratitude to all the boots on the ground in Fairbanks for sharing the day with us.  Now that [...]

Sunday July 26, at 3pm Alaska time, Governor Sarah Palin stepped down from her position as governor.  This is the transcript of her farewell address. Yup, I took one for the team. It took three hours, but I made it. I’d been meaning to transcribe her rambling crazy “I’m not quitting, I’m just leading in [...]

Well, today was the second-to-last stop on the Quitter Tour.  It was Abdication Eve here in Alaska.  Today at 2pm Alaska time, the governor will officially hand over the state, and all it’s unresolved problems to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell.  He’s known to us here as Caribou Ken, The Empty Suit, Sean Who? and Captain Zero.  What is he [...]

Legal opinion is in, and a special session of the Alaska state legislature looms.  Yup, that means that in all likelihood, this pack of hearty souls who have had to endure what must have felt like the longest gubernatorial partial term in the history of ever….isn’t done yet.  The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections who, [...]

From the moment Sarah Palin got dubbed “Caribou Barbie” back in September of ’08, I have thought of Lt. Governor Sean Parnell as “Caribou Ken”.  Why not Todd as Caribou Ken?  He’s too involved.  Ken was never part of the action…  He was just sort of a vague presence.  Kind of a shadowy blonde sidekick [...]

Alaska politics is making strange bedfellows these days. Last week Wasilla conservative Republican, and Alaska State Senate President Lyda Green spoke with KUDO, the progressive talk radio station. Green was one of Palin’s mentors at the beginning of her career. But years went by, and the two began to disagree. There were power-plays, and barbs [...]